Well there is a marriage of an Edward to a Millicent:-
Marriages Jun 1943
Burns Edward Chisholm Durham N. 10a 1273
Chisholm Millicent Burns Durham N. 10a 1273
There are two Burns/Chisholm births in the Durham North registration district.
As I said for Thomas, would need the marriage cert to verify if this is the correct Edward. I as understand from a previous post, father William probably died in 1938 so he should appear as deceased on the marriage cert.
I am beginning to wonder if your mother got muddled as to which side of the family had son(s) going to the USA.
There is this death for an Edward Burns
Deaths Sep 1982
BURNS EDWARD 24 JULY 1921 GATESHEAD 2 268
Same date of birth as the 1939 Register.